Apparatus for manufacturing welded wire mesh mats for reinforcing concrete

ABSTRACT

A computer controlled apparatus for manufacturing welded wire mesh mats for reinforcing concrete is described. The welding machine has means for adjusting the longitudinal wire spacing, the transverse wire spacing, the mat length and the mat width. The adjustment device is controlled by automatic controllers which receive orders from the computer. The computer contains a limit data store in which can be stored standard limiting values for the wire mat such as limits derived from official building regulations, and the computer, on the basis of input data relating to the desired longitudinal and transverse strengths of the mat, taken in combination with the standard limiting values, determines the economically best combination of values for the mats and transmits corresponding orders to the controllers of the welding machine.

United States Patent 1 91 Ritter et a1.

[54] APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WELDED WIRE MESH MATS FOR REINFORCINGCONCRETE [75] inventors: Josef, Ritter, Wilhelm Boyer, Gerhard Ritter,Klaus Ritter, all of Graz, Styria, Austria [73] Assignee: EVGEntwecklungs-und Verwertungsgesellschaft, Graz, Austria [22] Filed: Oct.21, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 191,360

Related US. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 838,901 July 3,1969 abandoned. j

US. Cl. ..235/151.1, 219/55, 444/1 Int. Cl. ..G06f 15/46, B23k 29/00Field of Search ..2l9/58; 23-5/151.l;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,497,659 2/l970 Ritter etal ..2l9/ 58 X a l/FER 1 51 Apr. 10, 1973 Webers ..219/58 X Rrir'naryExaminer-Malcolm A. Morrison Assistant Examiner-R. Stephen Dildine, Jr.AtzorneyErnest F. Marmorek [57] ABSTRACT puter contains a limit datastore in which can be stored standard limiting values for the wire matsuch as limits derived from official building regulations, and thecomputer, on the basis of input data relating to the desiredlongitudinal and transverse strengths of the mat, taken in combinationwith the standard limiting values, determines the economically bestcombination of values for the mats and transmits corresponding orders tothe controllers of the welding machine.

10 Claims, 2 Figures L/M/T mm 570:: 5P

SELECTOR SWITCH (J CO/VZPOL'L ER MAcH/NE 5M Za WEL Dl/VG WIRE FGEDEES 111970 Ernst ..2l9/58 X dard mats of different sizes and types. Howeveralthough the length varies, the width is usually the same. The wirediameter varies and so does the wire spacing. Owing to the large numberof variations, storage is a considerable problem. Each customer issupplied with mats agreeing approximately with his requirements as tosize of mat, wire diameter and wire spacing, this being done by cuttingthe standard mats to suit the customers particular requirements.

This method involves a good deal of wastage of material, because thecut-off parts of the mats have to be scrapped. Furthermore the matswhich have been tailored in this way from standard mats seldom agreeprecisely with the customers requirements. The method has hitherto beenused because of the high cost, in time and in labor, of re-setting thewelding machine for each batch of mats, so as to produce each timeexactly the kind of mat desired by the customer. The cost of this kindof individualized production greatly outweighs the losses due to wastageof material in tailoring standard mats down to the customersrequirements.

In accordance with the present invention, apparatus for manufacturingwelded wire mesh for reinforcing concrete comprises at least one meshwelding machine equipped with devices for adjusting the longitudinalwire spacing, the transverse wire spacing, the wire v mesh mat lengthand the wire mesh mat width, the adjustment devices being controllableby an automatic controller which receives instructions from a computercontaining a limit data store in which there are stored standardlimiting values for the wire mats, the computer beingarranged in such away that on the basis of input data relating to the desired longitudinaland transverse strengths of the mats, taken in combination with thelimiting values mentioned above, the computer determines theeconomically best combination of values for the mats and transmitscorresponding orders to the controller of the welding machine.

With this arrangement the disadvantages mentioned above are avoided. Theapparatus can produce batches of mat exactly according to the customersrequirements, as to length .of mat, width of mat and mechanicalstrength. The change over from one type of mat to another can be made soeasy and so rapid that the machine can operate almost continuously, oras nearly continuously as a machine which is producing standard mats asdescribed above. When a customer requires a programme of mats ofparticular types and sizes for a construction project, these mats can beproduced by the machine, one after the other, in sizes and typesprecisely as required, taking into account the required longitudinal andtransverse mechanical strenths, and taking into account the officiallyspecified limits laid down in the official standard specifications.Finally, the storage problems involved in keeping a stock of a largenumber of different standard sized mats are eliminated, withcorresponding economy in space and operating capital.

The official standards do not in practice allow mats of all the requiredtypes to be manufactured using wire of only one diameter, although thiswould be desirable for economic reasons. In practice, it is necessary touse wire of several different diameters (several different crosssections). In Austria for example, the official standards make itnecessary to use three or four different wire thicknesses. When it comesto deciding which wirethickness to use for a particular type of mat,this depends in Austria for example, on the officialy specified ratiobetween the thickness of the concrete slab in which the mat is embeddedand the wire spacing. In the apparatus according to the invention thereare therefore fed to the computer not only the longitudinal andtransverse strength requirements for the particular batch of mat, butalso data on the limits specified in the official standards togetherwith, in Austria, the thickness of the concrete slab which is going toreceive the wire mat asreinforcement.

When a mat is to be manufactured to specified longitudinal andtransverse strengths, the official standards usually allow the mat to bemanufactured using either of two different wire diameters. The computermust therefore determine which of the two wire diameters will give themost economical result. In the apparatus according to the invention thecomputer determines this and transmits its decision to the controller ofthe welding machine.

In manufacturing a programme of mats the different types of mat oftenrequire different wire diameters. To

meet this requirement, a single welding machine can be used, which isswitched over from one wire diameter to another as necessary.Alternatively the apparatus may comprise several welding machines, eachusing only one wire diameter.

If a single welding machine is used having two or more alternative wirefeeders for selectively feeding wires of different diameters thecomputer preferably contains buffer stores for storing those operatinginstructions for the controller of the welding machine which requirewire other than that currently being fed to the welding machine, thewelding machine being provided with a device for connecting the bufferstores to the controller as soon as the wire feeder on the weldingmachine has been changed over to feed wires of appropriate diameters.

If the particular kind of welding machine used has to be stopped foradjusting longitudinal and transverse wire spacing, mat length and matwidth, that is to say, if the adjustments can be made only when themachine is not operating, the programming must allow the necessary idletime during the change over from one type of mat to another. On theother hand, if the welding machine is of the type which allows theadjustments to be made without interrupting operation of the machine,the programming need not provide an interval for making the adjustments.Moreover in this case the further possibility arises that the wirespacing can be varied over the surface of each mat, for example thetransverse wire spacing can if desired be made closer areas of the mat.

When mat is being manufactured in this way, that is tosayproduced in asuccession of batches to suit the customers programme, it is advisableto attach an identifying label to each batch, to prevent confusion. Thecomputer is preferably equipped with a printing device which printsinformation, on a card for example, for each batch of mat, indicatingthe characteristics of the batch. The card can be attached to the mat inthe form of a label. A copy of the card can serve for invoicingpurposes.

the Figure shows elongated blocks D1, D2, D3, for

feeding selectively wires of three diameters d1, d2, d3.

information, L, B and n. The computer processes all the groups of datafor the entire production programme in this way, so that finally thethree buffer stores PS1, PS2 and PS3 contain between them the operatingdata for manufacturing the programme of batches, using the wirethicknesses d1, d2, d3.

The wire feeder D1 is shown in full lines to indicate that this sizeof-wire is being" fed to the machine. Similarly, the machine has threetransverse wire feeders (not shown) for feeding selectively transversewires of three different diameters. The welding machine is controlled bya controller St which is connected by a selector switch U selectively toany one of three bufferstores PS1, PS2, PS3, of a computer R. Thecomputer also contains a limit data store Sp which stores informationrelating to the officially specified limits governing the a Input B,width ofmat,

I Input D, thickness of concrete slab, I

Input n, number of mats to make up the batch.

' The group of data for a particular batch of mats is processed by thecomputer as follows. On the basis of the input data f f and D, inconjunction with the information stored in the limit data store Sp, thecomputer determines which of the three wire diameters d1, d2, or d3,must be used in manufacturing the particular batch of mats so as toobtain the most economical result. The computer determines thecorresponding longitudinal wire spacing 1,, and transverse spacing t andtransmits this information to the corresponding buffer store PS1, PS2 orPS3, together with the input The quantity t,, is used to control thetransverse spacing of the electrodes on the welding machine andconsequently the longitudinal wire spacing, and the diameter of thelongitudinal wires.

The quantity tq is used to control the length of stroke of theintermittent advance mechanism of the welding machine in such a way thatafter a transverse wire has been welded to the longitudinal wires, theintermittent advance mechanism advances the longitudinal wires by anamount corresponding to the desired transverse wire spacing.

The quantity L is used to control either a cut-off shear, which cuts offthe completed wire mesh into mats of the correct length or a shearlocated between the longitudinal wire feeders D1, D2 or D3 and thewelding machine SM, so that the longitudinalwires are fedto the machinealready cut to length. a

The quantity B is used to control a shear which cooperateswith thetransverse wire feeders so as to cut off the transverse wires to thecorrect length.

As soon as all the mats'containing' wires of diameter d1 have been madethe welding machine SM is changed over to take wires of diameter d2,whereupon the selector switch U is switched over to make connection withthe buffer store PS2, the machine now proceeding to manufacture all themats containing wire of diameter d2. Finally, the machine is changedover again, this time to take wire of diameter d3, and the selectorswitch is switched over to the buffer store PS3, whereupon the machinemakes all the mats containing wires of diameter d3.

The apparatus shownin FIG. 2 contains three welding machines SMl, SM2and 8M3, taking wires of diameters respectively d1, d2, and d3, that'isto say each machine takes only the one kind of wire. In. this machinethe computer R has the same inputterminals as in FIG. 1, and has bufferstores PS1, PS2, PS3, and a limit data store Sp, as already describedabove. In this case however each buffer store PS1 PS2, PS3 is con nectedexclusively to a controller 811, 812,86, each controller'controlling itsown welding machine SMl, SM2, SM3. I

In both these examples each input register is capable of storing a largenumber of data, groups of data being processed by the computer, oneafter the other, and then transferredto the buffer stores, where theyare stored. The machine shown in FIG. 1 achieves-the best possibleutilization of a single welding machine during the periods when themachine remains adjusted to take a particular size of wire. The machineshown in FIG. 2, on the other hand, provides optimal utilization of allthree welding machines, the three machines manufacturing wire matssimultaneously.

In regard to the officially specified limits stored in the limit datastore Sp the quantities vary from country to country. Although inthis'example only the single limiting quantity D, the thickness of theconcrete slab, has been mentioned, there can of course be stored in Spany other quantity, or several quantities, which may Required spacing ofline wires:

-Calculate (D+8)20=k need to be taken into account in satisfyingregulations prevailing in any particular country.

In regard to the readjustment of the machine before starting to makeanother batch of mats, this can in principle be done in either of twodifferent ways. By the 5 first method all the adjustment devices arefirst of all returned to zero positions, after which the computer givesthe orders for a complete re-setting of the machine. By the secondmethod, as soon as a batch of mats has been completed, the existingpositions of the 10 adjustment devices are signalled back to thecomputer, whereupon the computer gives the necessary orders forre-setting each adjustment device to the value desired for the nextbatch of mats. By this method the computer merely determines, for eachadjustment device,

the difference between the old setting and the new setting, signallingthe difference to the adjustment device on the machine.

The actual computation of spacings for various diameter wires and of aselection of the most economical possibility will be more readilyapparent from the following numerical examples:

WIRES AVAILABLE:

Wire area of cross price per diameter section in of length cm cm (units)1 fer P1 a e: P: es 1 a D (cm) depth of slab n required number of matsof a given batch Line Wires: Required number of line wires m m (ft fenapproximate by the next integral number bigger than m m l I Steel areaactually on hand in direction of lme wires:

Introduction of limiting conditions:

2d 2 r lfk '0;r e 020 a e a 2d If this condition is not met with wire onhand the particular type of wire is not suited for production of mats.Ifk ,0;r 020 Q e Q If this condition is not met with wire on hand thatparticular type of wire is not suited for production of mats If thiscondition is not met with wire on hand that particular type of wire isnot suited for production of mats.

If this condition is not met with wire on hand that particular type ofwire is not-suited for production of mats. Price of linewire materialrequired for the produc'- tion of the whole batch:

PL "l m' .L p

Cross Wires Required number of cross wires m e (fa/J3 L approximate bynext integral number bigger than mm, ma Steel area actually on hand indirection of cross wires:

F (m 'f )/(L) (cm Cross wire spacing:

particular type of wire is unsuited for production of mats.

Price of crosswirematerial required for the production of the wholebatch If n different types of wire are on hand compute all values P fori= 1,2,3 n and P for i-- 1,2,3 n and add I Ln P011 un The least value Pindicates the economic optimum! EXAMPLE 1 WIRES AVAILABLE d. pi, cm sqcmunits 0,3 0,07 0,30 0,6 0,28 1,10 0,64 2,40

Imposed limitations as in previous paragraph. Values resulting fromstatical computation: f 4.2 sqcm per m f 1.4 sqcm per m B r 1.7 m D 16cm n 25 d =0.3 cm (Line wire) Condition not met, wire unsuited! d 0.6 cmLine wire) m =(4.2/0.28)' l.70=25.5 m,,=26

F,,= (260.28)/1.70= 4.28 sqcm p'er m e =170/25=6.8 cm k=(16+8)20=40r=1.2-2=0.8 Therefore: 20 68 2 Condition satisfied, wire may be used! d0.9 cm Line wire) m ,,=(4.2/0.64)- 1.70= 11.2 m,,= l2 F l2 0.64)/1.70=4.52 sqcm per m e 170/11= 15.4 cm 'k=(16+8)-20=4 0r=1.82=-0.2 0Therefore: 20 15.4 2 Condition satisfied, wire may be used d,=0.3, cm(Cross wire) m =(1.4/0.07)-5.0= 100. .m F0 100-0.07)/5.0= 1.4 sqcm permeq= 500/99 5.05 cm r=0-.62=1.2 0 Therefore: 33 ,5.05 2 Conditionsatisfied, wire may be used. Pa1f=.25-10O 1.7003 =1,275

d,=0.6 cm (Cross wire) m =(1.4/0.28)-5.0= 25 m 25 F (25-0.28)/5.0 1.40sqcm per m e =500/24=20.8 cm

r=1.2-2= 0.'8 0 Thereforez33 20.8 2 Condition satisfied, wire may beused. P 25-25-1.70-l.10= 1,168.75

d 0.9 cm (Cross wire) m (l.40/0.64)'5.0= 10.9 m 11 F =(11-0.64)/5.0 1.41sqcm per m Therefore: 33 50 2 Condition not satisfied, wire must not beused! The economic optimum: P P P 3,575 1,275 4,850 P g'l'P P "l' 1 P PP 3,600 1,275 4,875 P P P 3,600 1,168.75 4,768.75

P is the economic optimum! The mats to be produced have thespecifications: Line wires d=0.6 cm

d 0.6 cm

d 0.9 cm

Since f; 7.3 sq cm per m is bigger than the corresponding value inExample 1, a wire with a diameter of 0.3 cm cannot satisfy the condition20 e 2 -(Line wires) Condition satisfied P 4037470 1 .10 7,651.60

d 0.9 cm (Line wires) m =(7.3/0.64)' 1.40= 16 m 16 F=(16-0.64)/1.40=7.30 sq cm perm e,,=140/15=9.3 cm

Condition satisfied P 4.0- 1 6-4.7-2.4 7,219.20

d, 0.3 cm (Cross wires) m =(2.0/O.07)-4.70 134.2. .m,,; F =(135/4.70)-0.07 2.01 sq cm per m e =470/134=3.5 cm r=0.62=-1.4 0

33 3.5 2 Condition satisfied (Cross wires)- 33 14.2 2 Condition satisfie(Cross wires) m =(2.00/0.64)- 4.70= 14.7 m 15 F =(15-0.64)/4.70 2.05 sqcm per m e =470/l4=33.6 cm r=1.82=0.2 0

33 33.6 2 Condition not satisfied, wire must not be used! The economicoptimum:

P P P 7,651.60 2,268.0 9,919.60

P P P 7,651.60 2,094.4 9,746.00

P P P 7,219.20 2,268.0 9,487.20

P P P 7,219.20 2,094.4 9,313.60

The mats to be produced have the specification:

Line wires cross wires d=0,9 cm d=0,6 cm (2,, 9,3 cm e 14,2 cm F,,=7,3sq cm perm F =2,02 sq cm perm 16 Line wires 34 Cross wires.

We claim:

1. A process for manufacturing welded wire mesh mats for reinforcingconcrete with the aid of at least one welding machine having wirefeeders, devices for adjusting the longitudinal wire spacings, thetransverse wire spacing, the wire mesh mat length and wire mesh matwidth, an automatic controller for controlling the operation of saidwelding machine in response to order signals and a computer forproviding and feeding said order signals to said automatic controller,comprising the steps of feeding input data relating to the desiredlongitudinal and transverse strengths of the wire mesh mats to thecomputer, combining said input data in the computer with standardlimiting values for the wire mesh mats stored in the computer,determining the economically best combination of values for the wiremesh mats by the computer and transmitting the resulting order signalsfrom the computer to the automatic controller.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein said standard limiting valuesfor the mats are longitudinal wire cross-section data f transverse wirecross-section data f thickness of concrete slab D, said inputinformation data are the length L of mat, the width B of the mat, numbern of mats to make up a batch, and the resulting parameters of the matstobe manufactured are the longitudinal wire spacing t,, and the transversewire space t 3. A process according to claim 2, comprising the steps offeeding .the input data f f and D to the computer, combining said inputdata in the computer with information stored in a limiting data store ofthe computer, determining by the computer the wire diameters d1, d2, d3required in order to obtain the most economical results inm'anufacturinga particular batch of wire mats, evaluating the correspondinglongitudinal wire spacing t,, and transverse wire spacing t andtransmitt'ing the corresponding information together with the inputinformation L, B and n to buffer-stores PS 1, PS 2, PS 3, each of saidbuffer-stores receiving and storing all operating data requisite formanufacturing the program of batches using wires with one of thediameters d1, d2, d3 and being selectively connectable to the automaticcontroller of a wire mesh welding machine equipped with a plurality ofwire feeders D l, D 2, D 3 containing wire of the diameters d1, d2, d3respectively, and connecting the respective bufferstore to the automaticcontroller of the wire mesh welding machine when the machine is changedto receive wire from another feeder.

4. A process according to claim 2 comprising the steps of feeding theinput data f f and D to the computer, combining the input data in thecomputer with information stored in the limiting data store Sp of thecomputer, determining by the computer the wire diameters d1, d2, d3required in order to obtain the most economical result in manufacturinga particular batch of wire mesh mats, evaluating the correspondinglongitudinal wire spacing t and transverse wire spacing ti andtransmitting the corresponding information together with the inputinformation L, B and n to buffer-stores PS 1, PS 2, PS 3, each of saidbuffer-stores receiving and storing all operating data requisite formanufacturing the program of batches using wire with one of thediameters d1, d2, d3 and being connected to the automatic controller ofone of a plurality of wiremesh welding machines to which wire of thecorresponding diameter is fed.

5. A process according to claim 1 comprising the steps of forming apattern of longitudinal wires in accordance with the computedparameters, feeding consecutively transverse wires across saidlongitudinal wires, welding consecutively each transverse wire to saidlongitudinal wires and intermittently advancing said pattern oflongitudinal wires in concert with the feed of said transverse wires,all in accordance with the computed data.

6. A process according to claim 1 comprising the additional step ofprinting the characteristics of each batch of mats on a card by means ofa printing device attached to the computer.

7. A process for manufacturing welded wire mesh mats for reinforcingconcrete comprising the steps of manually adjusting the wire spacings incertain areas of the mat, feeding input data relating to the desiredlongitudinal and transverse strengths of the remaining areas of the matto a computer, combining said input data in the computer with standardlimiting values for the wire mesh mats stored in the computer,determining the economically best combination of values for the wiremesh mats by the computer and transmitting corresponding orders from thecomputer to the automatic controller of at least one wire mesh weldingmachine which is equipped with devices for adjusting the longitudinalwire spacing, the transverse wire spacing, the wire mesh mat length andthe wire mesh mat width, said devices being controllable by saidautomatic controller.

8. A process for manufacturing welded wire mesh mats for reinforcingconcrete comprising the steps of manually feeding information for theadjustment of longitudinal and transverse wire spacing in certain areasof the mat to the computenfeeding input data relating to the desiredlongitudinal and transverse strengths of the remaining areas of the matto a computer, combining said input data in the computer with standardlimiting values for the wire mesh mats stored inthe computer,determining the economically best combination of values for the wiremesh mats by the computer and transmitting corresponding orders from thecomputer to the controller of at least one wire mesh welding machinewhich is equipped with devices for adjusting the longitudinal wirespacing, the transverse wire spacing, the wire mesh mat length and thewire mesh mat width, said devices being controllable by said automaticcontroller.

9. A process for manufacturing welded wire mesh mats for reinforcingconcrete with the aid of a welding machine having wire feeders, devicesfor adjusting the longitudinal wire spacings, the transverse wirespacing, the wire mesh mat length and the wire mesh mat width,

" an automatic controller for controlling the operation of said weldingmachine in response to order signals and a computer-for providingandfeeding said order signals to said automatic controller, comprisingthe steps of feedinginput data relating to the desired longitudinal andtransverse strengths of the wire mesh mats to the computer, combiningsaid input data in the computer with'standard limiting'values for thewire mesh mats stored in the computer, determining the economically bestcombination of values for the wire spacings on the basis of given wirediameters by the computer and transmitting the resulting order signalsfrom the computer to buffer-stores, each of-said'buffer-stores receivingandstoring all operating data'requisite for m anufac turing the programof batches using wires with one of the given diameters and beingselectively connectable to the automatic controller of the wire meshwelding machine, the machine being equipped with a plurality of wirefeeders, each of said feeders containing wire of one ofthe givendiameters, and selectively connecting .the respective buffer store tothe automatic controller of the wire mesh welding machine when themachine is changed to receive wire from another feeder.

10. A process for manufacturing welded wire mesh mats for reinforcingconcrete with the aid of a plurality of welding machines each havingwire feeders, devices for adjusting the longitudinal wire spacing, thetransverse wire spacing, the wire mesh mat length an'dvthe wire mesh matwidth, and an automatic controller for 1 controlling the operation ofthe respective welding machine in response to order signals and acomputer for providing and feeding said order signals to said automaticcontrollers, comprising the steps of feeding input data relating to thedesired longitudinal and transverse strengths of the wire mesh mats tothe commanufacturing the program of batches using wire with one of thegiven diameters and being connected to the automatic controller of aparticular one of the plurality. of wire-mesh welding machines to whichwire of the corresponding diameter is fed.

1. A process for manufacturing welded wire mesh mats for reinforcingconcrete with the aid of at least one welding machine having wirefeeders, devices for adjusting the longitudinal wire spacings, thetransverse wire spacing, the wire mesh mat length and wire mesh matwidth, an automatic controller for controlling the operation of saidwelding machine in response to order signals and a computer forproviding and feeding said order signals to said automatic controller,comprising the steps of feeding input data relating to the desiredlongitudinal and transverse strengths of the wire mesh mats to thecomputer, combining said input data in the computer with standardlimiting values for the wire mesh mats stored in the computer,determining the economically best combination of values for the wiremesh mats by the computer and transmitting the resulting order signalsfrom the computer to the automatic controller.
 2. A process according toclaim 1 wherein said standard limiting values for the mats arelongitudinal wire cross-section data fL , transverse wire cross-sectiondata fQ , thickness of concrete slab D, said input information data arethe length L of mat, the width B of the mat, number n of mats to make upa batch, and the resulting parameters of the mats to be manufactured arethe longitudinal wire spacing tL and the transverse wire space tQ.
 2. Aprocess according to claim 1 wherein said standard limiting values forthe mats are longitudinal wire cross-section data fL , transverse wirecross-section data fQ , thickness of concrete slab D, said inputinformation data are the length L of mat, the width B of the mat, numbern of mats to make up a batch, and the resulting parameters of the matsto be manufactured are the longitudinal wire spacing tL and thetransverse wire space tQ.
 3. A process according to claim 2, comprisingthe steps of feeding the input data fL, fQ and D to the computer,combining said input data in the computer with information stored in alimiting data store of the computer, determining by the computer thewire diameters d1, d2, d3 required in order to obtain the mosteconomical results in manufacturing a particular batch of wire mats,evaluating the corresponding longitudinal wire spacing tL and transversewire spacing tQ and transmitting the corresponding information togetherwiTh the input information L, B and n to buffer-stores PS 1, PS 2, PS 3,each of said buffer-stores receiving and storing all operating datarequisite for manufacturing the program of batches using wires with oneof the diameters d1, d2, d3 and being selectively connectable to theautomatic controller of a wire mesh welding machine equipped with aplurality of wire feeders D 1, D 2, D 3 containing wire of the diametersd1, d2, d3 respectively, and connecting the respective buffer-store tothe automatic controller of the wire mesh welding machine when themachine is changed to receive wire from another feeder.
 3. A processaccording to claim 2, comprising the steps of feeding the input data fL,fQ and D to the computer, combining said input data in the computer withinformation stored in a limiting data store of the computer, determiningby the computer the wire diameters d1, d2, d3 required in order toobtain the most economical results in manufacturing a particular batchof wire mats, evaluating the corresponding longitudinal wire spacing tLand transverse wire spacing tQ and transmitting the correspondinginformation together with the input information L, B and n tobuffer-stores PS 1, PS 2, PS 3, each of said buffer-stores receiving andstoring all operating data requisite for manufacturing the program ofbatches using wires with one of the diameters d1, d2, d3 and beingselectively connectable to the automatic controller of a wire meshwelding machine equipped with a plurality of wire feeders D 1, D 2, D 3containing wire of the diameters d1, d2, d3 respectively, and connectingthe respective buffer-store to the automatic controller of the wire meshwelding machine when the machine is changed to receive wire from anotherfeeder.
 4. A process according to claim 2 comprising the steps offeeding the input data fL, fQ and D to the computer, combining the inputdata in the computer with information stored in thE limiting data storeSp of the computer, determining by the computer the wire diameters d1,d2, d3 required in order to obtain the most economical result inmanufacturing a particular batch of wire mesh mats, evaluating thecorresponding longitudinal wire spacing tL and transverse wire spacingtQ and transmitting the corresponding information together with theinput information L, B and n to buffer-stores PS 1, PS 2, PS 3, each ofsaid buffer-stores receiving and storing all operating data requisitefor manufacturing the program of batches using wire with one of thediameters d1, d2, d3 and being connected to the automatic controller ofone of a plurality of wire-mesh welding machines to which wire of thecorresponding diameter is fed.
 4. A process according to claim 2comprising the steps of feeding the input data fL, fQ and D to thecomputer, combining the input data in the computer with informationstored in the limiting data store Sp of the computer, determining by thecomputer the wire diameters d1, d2, d3 required in order to obtain themost economical result in manufacturing a particular batch of wire meshmats, evaluating the corresponding longitudinal wire spacing tL andtransverse wire spacing tQ and transmitting the correspondinginformation together with the input information L, B and n tobuffer-stores PS 1, PS 2, PS 3, each of said buffer-stores receiving andstoring all operating data requisite for manufacturing the program ofbatches using wire with one of the diameters d1, d2, d3 and beingconnected to the automatic controller of one of a plurality of wire-meshwelding machines to which wire of the corresponding diameter is fed. 5.A process according to claim 1 comprising the steps of forming a patternof longitudinal wires in accordance with the computed parameters,feeding consecutively transverse wires across said longitudinal wires,welding consecutively each transverse wire to said longitudinal wiresand intermittently advancing said pattern of longitudinal wires inconcert with the feed of said transverse wires, all in accordance withthe computed data.
 5. A process according to claim 1 comprising thesteps of forming a pattern of longitudinal wires in accordance with thecomputed parameters, feeding consecutively transverse wires across saidlongitudinal wires, welding consecutively each transverse wire to saidlongitudinal wires and intermittently advancing said pattern oflongitudinal wires in concert with the feed of said transverse wires,all in accordance with the computed data.
 6. A process according toclaim 1 comprising the additional step of printing the characteristicsof each batch of mats on a card by means of a printing device attachedto the computer.
 6. A process according to claim 1 comprising theadditional step of printing the characteristics of each batch of mats ona card by means of a printing device attached to the computer.
 7. Aprocess for manufacturing welded wire mesh mats for reinforcing concretecomprising the steps of manually adjusting the wire spacings in certainareas of the mat, feeding input data relating to the desiredlongitudinal and transverse strengths of the remaining areas of the matto a computer, combining said input data in the computer with standardlimiting values for the wire mesh mats stored in the computer,determining the economically best combination of values for the wiremesh mats by the computer and transmitting corresponding orders from thecomputer to the automatic controller of at least one wire mesh weldingmachine which is equipped with devices for adjusting the longitudinalwire spacing, the transverse wire spacing, the wire mesh mat length andthe wire mesh mat width, said devices being controllable by saidautomatic controller.
 7. A process for manufacturing welded wire meshmats for reinforcing concrete comprising the steps of manually adjustingthe wire spacings in certain areas of the mat, feeding input datarelating to the desired longitudinal and transverse strengths of theremaining areas of the mat to a computer, combining said input data inthe computer with standard limiting values for the wire mesh mats storedin the computer, determining the economically best combination of valuesfor the wire mesh mats by the computer and transmitting correspondingorders from the computer to the automatic controller of at least onewire mesh welding machine which is equipped with devices for adjustingthe longitudinal wire spacing, the transverse wire spacing, the wiremesh mat length and the wire mesh mat width, said devices beingcontrollable by said automatic controller.
 8. A process formanufacturing welded wire mesh mats for reinforcing concrete comprisingthe steps of manually feeding information for the adjustment oflongitudinal and transverse wire spacing in certain areas of the mat tothe computer, feeding input data relating to the desired longitudinaland transverse strengths of the remaining areas of the mat to acomputer, combining said input data in the computer with standardlimiting values for the wire mesh mats stored in the computer,determining the economically best combination of values for the wiremesh mats by the computer and transmitting corresponding orders from thecomputer to the controller of at least one wire mesh welding machinewhich is equipped with devices for adjusting the longitudinal wirespacing, the transverse wire spacing, the wire mesh mat length and thewire mesh mat width, said devices being controllable by said automaticcontroller.
 8. A process for manufacturing welded wire mesh mats forreinforcing concrete comprising the steps of manually feedinginformation for the adjustment of longitudinal and transverse wirespacing in certain areas of the mat to the computer, feeding input datarelating to the desired longitudinal and transverse strengths of theremaining areas of the mat to a computer, combining said input data inthe computer with standard limiting values for the wire mesh mats storedin the computer, determining the economically best combination of valuesfor the wire mesh mats by the computer and transmitting correspondingorders from the computer to the controller of at least one wire meshwelding machine which is equipped with devices for adjusting thelongitudinal wire spacing, the transverse wire spacing, the wire meshmat length and the wire mesh mat width, said devices being controllableby said automAtic controller.
 9. A process for manufacturing welded wiremesh mats for reinforcing concrete with the aid of a welding machinehaving wire feeders, devices for adjusting the longitudinal wirespacings, the transverse wire spacing, the wire mesh mat length and thewire mesh mat width, an automatic controller for controlling theoperation of said welding machine in response to order signals and acomputer for providing and feeding said order signals to said automaticcontroller, comprising the steps of feeding input data relating to thedesired longitudinal and transverse strengths of the wire mesh mats tothe computer, combining said input data in the computer with standardlimiting values for the wire mesh mats stored in the computer,determining the economically best combination of values for the wirespacings on the baSis of given wire diameters by the computer andtransmitting the resulting order signals from the computer tobuffer-stores, each of said buffer-stores receiving and storing alloperating data requisite for manufacturing the program of batches usingwires with one of the given diameters and being selectively connectableto the automatic controller of the wire mesh welding machine, themachine being equipped with a plurality of wire feeders, each of saidfeeders containing wire of one of the given diameters, and selectivelyconnecting the respective buffer store to the automatic controller ofthe wire mesh welding machine when the machine is changed to receivewire from another feeder.
 9. A process for manufacturing welded wiremesh mats for reinforcing concrete with the aid of a welding machinehaving wire feeders, devices for adjusting the longitudinal wirespacings, the transverse wire spacing, the wire mesh mat length and thewire mesh mat width, an automatic controller for controlling theoperation of said welding machine in response to order signals and acomputer for providing and feeding said order signals to said automaticcontroller, comprising the steps of feeding input data relating to thedesired longitudinal and transverse stengths of the wire mesh mats tothe computer, combining said input data in the computer with standardlimiting values for the wire mesh mats stored in the computer,determining the economically best combination of values for the wirespacings on the basis of given wire diameters by the computer andtrasntransmitting the resulting order signals from the computer tobuffer-stores, each of said buffer-stores receiving and storing alloperating data requisite for manufacturing the program of batches usingwires with one of the given diameters and being selectively connectableto the automatic controller of the wire mesh welding machine, themachine being equipped with a plurality of wire feeders, each of saidfeeders containing wire of one of the given diameters, and selectivelyconnecting the respective buffer store to the automatic controller ofthe wire mesh welding machine when the machine is changed to receivewire from another feeder.
 10. A process for manufacturing welded wiremesh mats for reinforcing concrete with the aid of a plurality ofwelding machines each having wire feeders, devices for adjusting thelongitudinal wire spacing, the transverse wire spacing, the wire meshmat length and the wire mesh mat width, and an automatic controller forcontrolling the operation of the respective welding machine in responseto order signals and a computer for providing and feeding said ordersignals to said automatic controllers, comprising the steps of feedinginput data relating to the desired longitudinal and transverse strengthsof the wire mesh mats to the computer, combining said input data in thecomputer with standard limiting values for the wire mesh mats stored inthe computer, determining the economically best combination of valuesfor the wire spacings on the basis of given wire diameters by thecomputer and transmitting the resulting order signals from the computerto a plurality of buffer-stores, each of said buffer-stores receivingand storing all operating data requisite for manufacturing the programof batches using wire with one of the given diameters and beingconnected to the automatic controller of a particular one of theplurality of wire-mesh welding machines to which wire of thecorresponding diameter is fed. B. d2 0.6 cm ( Line wire) mLo(4.2/0.28).1.70 25.5 . . . . mL 26 FL (26.0.28/1.70 4.28 sqcm per m cL170/25 6.8 cm k (16 + 8) - 20 4 >0 r 1.2 - 2 -0.8 <0 Therefore: 20 >6.8 > 2 Condition satisfied, wire may be used! PL2 25.26.5.0.1.10 3,575/C. d3 0.9 cm ( Line wire) mLo (4.2/0.64). 1.70 11.2 . . . mL 12 FL (12hu . 0.64/1.70) 4.52 sqcm per m eL 170/11 15.4 cm k (16 + 8) - 20 -4 > 0r 1.8 - 2 - 0.2 < 0 Therefore: 20 > 15.4 >2 Condition satisfied, wiremay be used ! PL3 25.12.5.0.2.40 3,600/ D. d1 0.3 (Cross wire) mQo(1.4/0.07).5.0 100 . . . . mQ 100 FQ (100.0.07/5.0 1.4 per m eQ 500/995.05 cm r 0.6 - 2 -1.2 < 0 Therefore: 33 > 5.05 > 2 Condition satisfied,wire may be used. PQ1 25.100. 1.70.0.3 1,275/ E. d2 0.6 cm (Cross wire)mQo (1.4/0.28).5.0 25 . . . . mQ 25 FQ (25..0.28/5.0) 1.40 sqcm per m eQ500/24 20.8 cm r 1.2 - 2 - 0.8 < 0 Therefore: 33 > 20.8 > 2 Conditionsatisfied, wire may be used. PQ2 25.25.1.70.1.10 1,168.75/ F. d3 0.9(Cross wire) mQo (1.40/0.64).5.0 1.9 . . . . mQ 11 FQ (11.0.64/5.0 1.41sqcm per m eQ 500/10 50 r 1.8 - 2 -0.2 < 0 Therefore: 33 < 50 > 2Condition not satisfied, wire must not be used! The economic optimum:PL2 + PQ1 P21 3,575 +1,275 4,850 PL2 + PQ2 P22 3,575 + 1,168.75 4,743.75PL3 + PQ1 P31 3,600 + 1,275 4,875 PL3 + PQ2 P32 3,600 + 1,168.754,768.75 P22 is the economkc optimum! The mats to be produced have thespecifications: Line wires d 0.6 cm Cross wires d 0.6 cm eL 6.8 cm eQ20.8 cm 26 line wires FL 4.28 sqcm per m Cross wires d 0.6 cm eQ 20.8 cm25 cross wires FQ 1.4 sqcm per m EXAMPLE 2 Wires available: The same asin Example
 1. Imposed limitations: The same as in Example 1 Valuesresulting from statical computation: fL 7.3 sq cm per m fQ 2.0 sq cm perm L 4.70 m B 1.40 m D 18 cm n 40 A. d1 0.3 cm (Line wire) Since fL 7.3 qcm per m is bigger than the corresponding value in Example 1, a sirewith a diameter of o.3 cm cannot satisfy the condition 20 > eL>2 B. d20.6 cm ( Line wires) mLo (7.3/0.28). 1.40 36.6 . . . mL 37 FL(37.0.28/1.40) 7.4 q cm per m eL 140/36 3.9 cm k 26 - 20 6 > 0 r 1.2 - 2-0.8 < 0 20 > 3.9 > 2 Condition satisfied PL2
 40. 37.4.701.10 7,651.60C. d3 0.9 cm ( Line wires) mLo (7.3/0.64). 1.40 16 . . . mL 16 FL(16.0.64/1.40 7.30 sq cm per m eL 140/15 9.3 cm k 26 -20 6 >0 r 1.8 -2-0.2 <0 20 >9.3 >2 Condition satisfied PL3 4.0.16.4.7.2.4 7,219.20/ D.d1 0.3 cm (Cross wires) mQ0 (2.0/0.07).4.70 134.2 . . . mQ 135 FQ(135/4.70). 0.07 2.01 sq cm per m eQ 470/134 3.5 cm r 0.6 -2 -1.4 < 033 > 3.5 >2 Condition satisfied PQ1 40.135.1.40. 0.30 2,268.0/ E. d2 0.6cm (Cross wires) mQo (2.00/0.28). 4.70 33.5 . . . mQ 34 FQ (340.28/4.70) 2.02 sq cm per m eQ 470/33 14.2 cm r 1.2 -2 -0.8 <0 33 >14.2 >2 Condition satisfied PQ2 40.34.1.40.1.10 2,094.4/ F. d3 0.9 cm (Crosswires) mQ (2.00/0.64). 4.70 14.7 . . . mQ 15 FQ (15.0.64/4.70) 2.05 sqcm per m eQ 470/14 33.6 cm r 1.8 -2 -0.2 <0 33 <33.6 >2 Condition notsatisfied, wire must not be used! The economic optimum: PL2 + PQ1 P217,651.60 +2,268.0 9.919.60 PL2 +PQ2 P22 7,651.60 +2,094.4 9,746.00 PL3+PQ1 P31 7,219.20 +2,268.0 9,487.20 PL3 +PQ2 P32 2 7,219.20 +2,094.49,313.60 The mats to be produced have the specification: Line wirescross wires d o,9 cm d o,6 cm eL 9,3 cm eQ 14.2 cm FL 7,3 sq cm per m FQ2,02 sq cm per m 16 Line wires 34 Cross wires. We claim:
 10. A processfor manufacturing welded wire mesh mats for reinforcing concrete withthe aid of a plurality of welding machines each having wire feeders,devices for adjusting the longitudinal wire spacing, the transverse thewire spacing, the wire mesh mat length and the wire mesh mat width, andan automatic controller for controlling the operation of the respectivewelding machine in response to order signals and a computer forproviding and feeding said order signals to said automatic controllers,comprising the steps of feeding input data relating to the desiredlongitudinal and transverse strengths of the wire mesh mats to thecomputer, combining said input data in the computer with standardlimiting values for the wire mesh mats stored in the computer,determining the economically best combination of values for the wirespacings on the basis of given wire diameters by the computer andtransmitting the resulting order signals from the computer to aplurality of buffer-stores, each of said buffer-stores receiving andstoring all operating data requisite for manufacturing the program ofbatches using wire with one of the given diameters and being connectedto the automatic controller of a particular one of the plurality ofwire-mesh welding machines to which wire of the corresponding diameteris fed.